News
Local

Pulse meeting examines industry

What’s going on with the lentil industry? What can be done to help minimize diseases and root rot in faba beans? What can be done to optimize returns with pulse crops?

These questions and more were answered at the Melfort regional pulse meeting this week.

“In this region peas have been an important crop andover the years we have had issues with root disease so we have heard a little bit about root rotand some other diseases. Certainly we know that is a challenge for pea production, but it’s an interesting opportunityon growing faba beans,” said Carl Potts, the executive director of Saskatchewan Pulse Growers, organizers of the meeting.

Faba beans is something the group has seen increasing in popularity in the northeast, which has typically be a pea growing area.

With that growth and the interest from producers in that particular crop, as well as all lentils, there were some presentations on the beans. Those presentations included information on varieties, agronomy and market outlooks.

It was an intimate group of producers who gathered to listen to, and ask questions of, the presenters.

Although the turnout was not large, about 30 people, Potts said they were an attentive group.

“In many cases it is not so much about getting huge numbers but getting those that are engaged and havequestions and come out,” Potts said.

“It’s not always about total numbers it’s about who’s interested in providing the opportunity to learn newinformation and engage with us.”

In fact, with smaller groups, there is an opportunity for more specific discussion and information between the producers and presenters.

Potts said having that kind of tailoring is important for the engagement with the audience.

It is increasing that engagement which led to the organization having more meetings in different parts of the province this year.

In total eight meetings were held between February 5 and 8.

“Melfort, Moosomin and Humboldt are all ones that we haven’t done in recent years but we really want to expand that footprint for a wider area of production.”

The more meetings helps show the increasing benefits of lentils.

“I think most producers understand the value that a nitrogen fixing pulse crop can add to the rotation. Not only from the nitrogen fixing benefits but from other soil health breaking seed and disease cycles. It is really important that we do everything we can to ensurean economicallyviable pulse crop options is out there for producers,” Potts said.

“It helps to make the whole cropping system more sustainable if we can ensure that we havea pulse available really for every acre.”